CLEVELAND — The Cavaliers showed life by cutting their series deficit to 2-1 in the Eastern Conference semifinals against the Detroit Pistons, but whether the Cavs build meaningful momentum will be determined in Game 4 on Monday, May 11.
The best-of-seven second-round NBA playoff series between the fourth-seeded Cavs and top-seeded Pistons will return to Detroit for Game 5 on Wednesday, May 13. Will the series be tied be tied by then, or will the Cavs instead face elimination?
The winner of the Cavs-Pistons series will advance to face the New York Knicks in the Eastern Conference Finals. The Knicks completed a 4-0 sweep of the Philadelphia 76ers on Sunday, May 10.
Tipoff for Game 4 between the Cavs and Pistons occurred at 8:11 p.m. Check here for live score updates, stats, highlights and analysis throughout the night:
Pistons guard Caris LeVert, formerly of the Cavs, is active despite being listed on the injury report as questionable to play in Game 4 with a heel contusion.
LeVert felt good enough to make his first two shots (a two-point jump shot and a 3-pointer), helping the Pistons trim their deficit to 18-15 during a timeout with 5:18 left in the first quarter.
LeVert spent parts of four seasons (2021-22 to 2024-25) with the Cavs.
Point guard James Harden scored 11 of the Cavs’ first 13 points, and Cleveland led Detroit 13-5 with 7:45 left in the first quarter.
To begin Game 4, Harden went 3-of-5 shooting from the field (3 of 4 on 3-pointers). His 3-pointer with 7:46 remaining led into a timeout with the Cavs ahead by eight points.
The only other Cavs player who scored at this juncture was center Jarrett Allen, who made the first basket of the game.
Two of Harden’s points early in the game came via foul shots. He moved into eighth place on the NBA’s all-time playoff free throws made list.
Below is some pregame information.
Game 4 between the Cavs and Pistons will be televised nationally by NBC and Peacock.
The local radio broadcast of Game 4 can be heard via WTAM (1100-AM) or WMMS (100.7-FM).
The Cavs listed backup center Thomas Bryant (lower back spasms) as questionable to play in Game 4, but about an hour before tipoff the team announced Bryant is available for Game 4.
In Game 3, Cavs backup shooting guard Sam Merrill returned from a one-game absence caused by a left hamstring strain.
For Game 4, the Cavs will stick with the same starting lineup they used in the first three games against the Pistons.
- Here it is:
- Point guard James Harden
- Guard Donovan Mitchell
- Forward Dean Wade
- Forward Evan Mobley
- Center Jarrett Allen
The Pistons initially listed backup guard Caris LeVert (right heel contusion) and backup wing Kevin Huerter (left abductor strain) as questionable to play in Game 4. But less than an hour before tipoff, the Pistons ruled out Huerter. Meanwhile, LeVert is active for Game 4.
LeVert has played in each game of Round 2 against his former Cavs team. Huerter was inactive in Games 1, 2 and 3 against the Cavs and in the final three games of Detroit’s 4-3 first-round series win over the eighth-seeded Orlando Magic.
The Pistons will use the same starting lineup for Game 4 as the one they deployed during the first three games of the series.
- Here it is:
- Point guard Cade Cunningham
- Guard Duncan Robinson
- Forward Ausar Thompson
- Forward Tobias Harris
- Center Jalen Duren
Here is all of the scheduling information the NBA has announced thus far about the Cavs-Pistons series in the Eastern Conference semifinals:
- Game 1: Pistons 111, Cavs 101; Pistons lead series 1-0 | Recap | Reaction | Analysis | Story
- Game 2: Pistons 107, Cavs 97 ; Pistons lead series 2-0 | Recap | Reaction | Analysis | Story
- Game 3: Cavs 116, Pistons 109; Pistons lead series 2-1 | Recap | Reaction | Analysis | Story
- Game 4: Pistons at Cavs, 8 p.m. Monday, May 11, NBC/Peacock
- Game 5: Cavs at Pistons, 7 or 8 p.m. Wednesday, May 13, ESPN
- Game 6: Pistons at Cavs, time TBD Friday, May 15, TBD network, if necessary
- Game 7: Cavs at Pistons, time TBD Sunday, May 17, TBD network, if necessary
Here are the second-round matchups:
- No. 1 seed Detroit Pistons vs. No. 4 seed Cleveland Cavaliers; Pistons lead series 2-1
- No. 3 seed New York Knicks vs. No. 7 seed Philadelphia 76ers; Knicks won series 4-0
Here are the first-round results:
- No. 1 seed Detroit Pistons vs. No. 8 Orlando Magic; Pistons won series 4-3
- No. 2 seed Boston Celtics vs. No. 7 Philadelphia 76ers; 76ers won series 4-3
- No. 3 seed New York Knicks vs. No. 6 seed Atlanta Hawks; Knicks won series 4-2
- No. 4 seed Cleveland Cavaliers vs. No. 5 seed Toronto Raptors; Cavs won series 4-3
This is the fourth consecutive season the Cavs have made the playoffs.
- Here are the results from their previous three playoff appearances, all of which have occurred since the Cavs traded for All-Star guard Donovan Mitchell in 2022:
- 2024-25: Lost 4-1 in second round to Indiana Pacers after sweeping Miami Heat 4-0 in first round
- 2023-24: Lost 4-1 in second round to Boston Celtics after beating Orlando Magic 4-3 in first round
- 2022-23: Lost 4-1 in first round to New York Knicks
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